Letters: Bold action needed for a safe semester; Wolf’s measures protect Pennsylvanians
Bold action needed for a safe semester
We need 100% testing of all new and returning Penn State students this August. Immediately upon arriving. This will give a clean baseline. (Quarantining those positive.) Then we will continue to have a safe State College community. If only 10 students come with asymptomatic symptoms, the situation could become overwhelming and shut down the campus within two months.
Part 1: This will reassure the parents and the town residents, plus protect our town. Penn State could require this test as a prerequisite to taking in-person classes. Let’s strongly encourage it to be done on the first day they are back in town. I believe every person would love to get this test. All PSU staff should get it too.
Part 2: Have quick results so that we know who is sick or asymptomatic. PSU could recommend people come back two weeks early, allowing enough time for test, results and a 14-day quarantine for those who test positive. Then all can start classes on the first day.
How can PSU get this many tests? We must start now. I believe PSU should petition Gov. Tom Wolf (and maybe President Trump) now for these tests. We are a very large Pennsylvania employer. If it spreads here and the school closes, it will spread all over Pennsylvania. Can the mayor of State College sign on to this letter too?
This may be shooting for the moon but if we don’t shoot for it, I cannot see how PSU can start the school year safely.
Wolf’s measures protect Pennsylvanians
While it’s easy to criticize those who are making decisions regarding public health, I appreciate our governor making difficult decisions and taking actions to forestall the spread of the pandemic.
We are fortunate not to be living in places where hospitals are full and deaths skyrocket because of poor decisions made by elected officials who ignore scientific evidence and appear to put the economy first (along with their political futures).
Gov. Tom Wolf has taken action to control the spread of the coronavirus. Thankfully, Sen. Jake Corman is not making the decisions. Corman, in his July 15 letter to the CDT, criticizes Wolf’s COVID-19 emergency measures. Corman feels Wolf’s coronavirus responses, “disregard the civil liberties of Pennsylvanians.” Really? Our civil liberties (and our lives) are being protected by Wolf’s decisive coronavirus responses!
Our governor is making thoughtful data-driven decisions. While our economy suffers, that suffering is less than if we were hit harder by the consequences of the pandemic. Fortunately, our governor does not place money or his political future over the lives of his constituents.
Our circumstances would be better if politicians like Corman would stop wasting time and taxpayer dollars with their one-upmanship and power grabs, do their jobs (e.g., work for Fair Districts), and let others do the work they pledged to do.
Portland outrage warranted
Unidentifiable fascist storm troopers snatching people off the streets is not what my son, a State College native, expected when he moved to Portland seven years ago. And the deeper problem is that this “normalizes” the idea it can happen, just like calling in regular army to “dominate” civilian crowds. Bad days ahead, my friends, if this passes with no reaction.
Community will benefit from Wolf’s action
Many thanks to Gov. Tom Wolf for his leadership in following the advice of scientists and medical professionals in keeping Pennsylvania citizens safe and healthy. At times it is essential to do the hard and perhaps unpopular thing to protect the community. As we saw from last weekend’s turnout in downtown State College, the public often do not follow protocols on their own. Both customers and staff of local facilities will benefit from his swift action. Our community and economy will benefit from business openings based on science. We are fortunate to live in a state where the governor cares about the people and is willing to take action to protect their long-term health and safety.